Yup'ik Masks Were Kindling

Ellam Yua – Person of the Universe. Ancestors of the Yup’ik did not know his real name until the missionaries came to Alaska. The Yup’ik believed there was the person of the universe who controlled everything.

The source of survival in the arctic was in the harvest of fish, animals, birds, and seasonal edibles. Farming was not an inkling. Some dance masks had hands with holes in their palms to represent his control. When man became disrespectful and greedy over these renewable resources, he would begin to close his hands. Their relationship to nature was to “leave it as you found it” was practiced every time.

The spiritual relationship with Ellam Yua was evident in their daily living and survival. They believed in the “Word” that guided them, passed down from centuries to centuries of time proven living standards to what the Bible was teaching. They did not know of God or gods of idolism but knew of unseen spirits that existed everywhere. The reference of “Ellam Inga” or eye of the universe, sky, heavens, or the reference to our conscious eye was always watching. He sees and knows all.

All the masks and figurines used for the festival would be burned at the end of every festival as kindling or children would play with them.  These objects were not considered living nor referenced as gods as the first missionaries described. The coastal communities in the Bering seaside had no trees and gladly used masks and figurines as kindling. They were not gods to be idolized but used as tools to thank Ellam Yua for all the gifts that made life possible.

One often asks, why did our ancestors survive for thousands of years? . They also said that things always change and pass, but the Word remains the same. The original Yup’ik Elders listened to the missionaries and learned that the “Word” had arrived in written form, the Bible. They learned the Bible had the same teachings to living as a Yup’ik person. It was centered around love, kindness and sharing. Showing respect to everything you do, say and act, as someone is always watching. That the greatest gift to successful living was following the Word. The Word was God, and his name was Jesus, the Emmanuel, Ellam Yua, God is with us, Jesus!